FuzeHub Announces Grant Awards from the Five-Million-Dollar Fund to Support Innovation and Manufacturing Throughout New York State

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CIS Professor Jie Qiao among recipients

Mar. 1, 2017

(Albany, NY – March 1, 2017) — FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization responsible for assisting small to medium-sized manufacturing companies (SMEs) in New York State by matching them with technical and business resources, recently launched the Jeff Lawrence Manufacturing Innovation Fund. Lawrence, who passed away in 2015, was a top executive at the Center for Economic Growth, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center for the Capital Region, and a champion for New York manufacturing and entrepreneurial communities.

The Manufacturing Innovation Fund, consisting of $1 million annually for five years, supports a set of activities designed to spur technology development and commercialization across New York State. FuzeHub is administering this fund as part of its role as the Empire State Development (ESD)-designated statewide MEP center.

As part of the fund, FuzeHub offers Manufacturing Innovation Grants. The grants are available to not-for-profit organizations, including higher education institutions, in New York State proposing innovative projects to be undertaken with small and mid-sized manufacturers or early stage companies. Projects can include prototype development, proof-of-concept manufacturing, certain equipment purchases, manufacturing scale-up, market identification, and other projects to advance manufacturing capabilities. The fund will also be used to launch a commercialization competition this fall, with plans to formally announce the details in late spring.

The second round of grant awardees are projected to incrementally add 46 new jobs to both existing and startup companies across New York State in the next two years. “One of the goals of the fund, and the Manufacturing Innovation Grants, is to spur economic development in the manufacturing sector, and we’re seeing that even these small investments in manufacturing projects are allowing companies to add jobs, strengthening their teams and contribute to their growth,” FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc noted. “These projects are a great example of how New York’s innovation assets are supporting industry and contributing to economic growth in New York,” she added.

FuzeHub is pleased to announce the second set of grantees:

Center for Economic Growth – $75,000

The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is working with ThermoAura Inc. to help them with the integration of new equipment into their manufacturing process to enable the high-volume manufacture of advanced nanocrystalline thermoelectric alloys. ThermoAura is an early stage company commercializing high-performance nanostructured thermoelectrics produced by a unique chemical method. Through working with CEG and the new equipment the project will support, ThermoAura will be able to decrease assembly times by more than four-fold, permit a three-fold increase in the number of parts produced per cycle and yield per-unit manufacturing costs that are the best in the world and up to 20% more competitive with overseas manufacturers. (Capital Region)

Clarkson University – $75,000

Clarkson University is creating a new shared laboratory for both academic and industry collaboration in which both will have access to laboratory tools and equipment. The new space, named the Clarkson Biomaterials Characterization Laboratory, will use the Manufacturing Innovation Grant award to purchase a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer/ infrared (IR) microscope for the purpose of developing and manufacturing next-generation metamaterials-enhanced infrared imaging systems for commercial, security and defense markets. Industry demand for the FTIR/IR microscope at Clarkson is driven by Phoebus Optoelectronics LLC, which has been performing metamaterials research, development and commercialization over the last ten years. The project with Clarkson will generate significant economic impact for Phoebus Optoelectronics, Clarkson University, Potsdam and the surrounding communities, including the creation of 10 high quality jobs over the next two years. (North Country)

Cornell Center for Materials Research – $58,926

Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) and Professor Yong Joo of Cornell University’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering are working with IdealChain, a spinoff of Buckingham Manufacturing, who manufactures safety products (harnesses, rescue systems, etc.), to develop and build a bench-scale multi-nozzle Air-Controlled (AC) electrospray system for encapsulation of dyes, to use as stress indicators in safety products. The resulting roll-to-roll electrospray system will be used by IdealChain to fabricate stress-indicating fibers and patches for safety equipment, helping the user to determine when to safely retire their equipment. The manufacturing technology originally developed through the CCMR Industrial Partnerships Program between the Joo Group and Buckingham Manufacturing not only has a large impact on the safety industry, but also wide-ranging ramifications for the fragrance, food, drug delivery and self-healing material industries. Additionally, this project will help IdealChain add 10 new jobs in the next two years. (Southern Tier)

Cornell Nanoscale Science & Technology Facility – $75,000

The Cornell NanoScale Facility (CNF) at Cornell University has partnered with Xallent LLC to develop a next generation diagnostic tool to more rapidly and economically test and characterize semiconductor devices and thin film materials during manufacturing. This tool is built on Xallent’s innovative nanoscale imaging and probing technology. The ability to rapidly probe and measure electrical components at the nanoscale for diagnostics and failure analysis non-destructively is expected to tap a broad range of industry applications. The Manufacturing Innovation Grant will be used to adapt Xallent’s nanomachine platforms to analytical instruments at the Cornell NanoScale Facility for validation, user interface focus, and reliability studies to ready the company for product launch and scale up. Additionally, this project will help Xallent add 8 new jobs by the end of 2019. (Southern Tier)

Cornell University – $74,980

Cornell University researchers and VitaScan have developed the VitaScan diagnostics platform: a low cost and portable instrument that can determine micronutrient deficiencies including vitamin D and iron from a finger stick of blood. A key innovation that makes this possible is the design and manufacturing of a proprietary lateral flow assay that combines blood filtration, chemical mixing, and capture of antibodies into one rapid process. Cornell and VitaScan will together develop a medium-scale manufacturing and packaging process to optimize the procedure and create reliable tests for validation studies. VitaScan will pursue the manufacturing strategy in preparation for commercialization, and plans to create 10 new jobs in the next two years. (Southern Tier)

Rochester Institute of Technology – $75,000

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is working with OptiPro Systems on a project to develop an innovative ultrafast-laser-based polishing system and process for optical manufacturing to eliminate polishing waste, long lead-time, and high-cost factors. The laboratory version laser polishing system will be developed in the Laboratory for Advanced Optical Fabrication and Instrumentation by Dr. Jie Qiao and her team at RIT’s Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science with the award-winning research and development (R&D) engineering team led by R&D Manager Edward Fess at OptiPro Systems, a leading manufacturer in Rochester specializing in manufacturing equipment for the fabrication of high-precision optics. (Finger Lakes)

Rochester Institute of Technology (AMPrint Center) – $36,000

Rochester Institute of Technology’s Additive Manufacturing and Multifunctional Printing (AMPrint) Center is working with Sensor Films on a project to define the operating conditions for high throughput additive manufacturing equipment capable of rapidly printing electrically conductive patterns on plastic substrates. The AMPrint Center will purchase an inkjet head assembly to be integrated with currently installed printing equipment to execute the project, adding long term manufacturing prototyping capability to the Center. Sensor Films’ ability to apply the experimental results to a suite of new manufacturing equipment will result in commercially implemented products to be built and sold in 2017 and beyond, and will create eight new high technology jobs in the local economy. (Finger Lakes)

About Jeff Lawrence

During his more than 20 years at the Center for Economic Growth, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliate in the Capital Region where he served as executive vice president, and MEP Center Director, Jeff Lawrence directed programs of direct assistance to manufacturers and technology companies to increase their competitiveness. He is remembered for being an invaluable and generous mentor to many in the area’s business community and a tireless advocate for manufacturing innovation throughout New York.

About FuzeHub

FuzeHub is a not-for-profit organization that connects New York’s small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation, and business growth. Through our custom assessment, matching, and referral platform, we help companies navigate New York’s robust network of industry experts at Manufacturing Extension Partners centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) center, supported by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation.

About Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR)

Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) mission is to advance technology innovation and commercialization in New York State. NYSTAR’s programs are designed to enable new and existing businesses to become more competitive through the use of innovative technologies, and emphasize the importance of working with industry to leverage the state’s technology strengths. Through funded programs that support world-class technology research at colleges and universities, NYSTAR works to promote a robust network of industry-university partnerships throughout the state. It administers the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which provides direct technology assistance to small and medium size manufacturers.